Sams Teach Yourself JavaScript in 24 Hours

Michael Moncur is the owner of Starling Technologies, a company specializing in networking and the Internet. He is also a freelance webmaster and author, and has written Sams Teach Yourself DHTML in 24 Hours, in addition to several other best-selling books on Novell networks and MCSE training.

Contents at a Glance

                        Introduction

Part I: Introducing the Concept of Web Scripting and the JavaScript Language

Hour 1............................................................................... Understanding JavaScript

                2   Creating Simple Scripts

                3   Getting Started with JavaScript Programming

                4   Working with the Document Object Model (DOM)

Part II: Learning JavaScript Basics

Hour 5............................................................ Using Variables, Strings, and Arrays

                6   Using Functions and Objects

                7   Controlling Flow with Conditions and Loops

                8   Using Built-in Functions and Libraries

Part III: Learning More About the DOM

Hour 9..................................................................................... Responding to Events

           10   Using Windows and Frames

           11   Getting Data with Forms

           12   Working with Style Sheets

           13   Using the W3C DOM

           14   Using Advanced DOM Features

Part IV: Working with Advanced JavaScript Features

Hour 15................................................................................. Unobtrusive Scripting

           16   Debugging JavaScript Applications

           17   AJAX: Remote Scripting

           18   Greasemonkey: Enhancing the Web with JavaScript

Part V: Building Multimedia Applications with JavaScript

Hour 19................................................................ Using Graphics and Animation

           20   Working with Sound and Plug-ins

Part VI: Creating Complex Scripts

Hour 21................................................... Building JavaScript Drop-down Menus

           22   Creating a JavaScript Game

           23   Creating JavaScript Applications

           24   Your Future with JavaScript

Part VII: Appendixes

                A   Other JavaScript Resources

                B   Tools for JavaScript Developers

               C   Glossary

               D   JavaScript Quick Reference

                E   DOM Quick Reference

                        Index


Table of Contents

Part I: Introducing the Concept of Web Scripting and the JavaScript Language

Hour 1: Understanding JavaScript    7

Learning Web Scripting Basics.... 7

How JavaScript Fits into a Web Page... 9

Browsers and JavaScript

Specifying JavaScript Versions

JavaScript Beyond the Browser

Exploring JavaScript’s Capabilities

Alternatives to JavaScript

Hour 2: Creating Simple Scripts

Tools for Scripting

Displaying Time with JavaScript

Beginning the Script

Adding JavaScript Statements

Creating Output

Adding the Script to a Web Page

Testing the Script

Hour 3: Getting Started with JavaScript Programming

Basic Concepts

JavaScript Syntax Rules

Using Comments

Best Practices for JavaScript

Hour 4: Working with the Document Object Model (DOM)

Understanding the Document Object Model (DOM)

Using Window Objects

Working with Web Documents

Accessing Browser History

Working with the Location Object

Part II: Learning JavaScript Basics

Hour 5: Using Variables, Strings, and Arrays

Using Variables

Understanding Expressions and Operators

Data Types in JavaScript

Converting Between Data Types

Using String Objects

Working with Substrings

Using Numeric Arrays

Using String Arrays

Sorting a Numeric Array

Hour 6: Using Functions and Objects

Using Functions

Introducing Objects

Using Objects to Simplify Scripting

Extending Built-in Objects

Hour 7: Controlling Flow with Conditions and Loops

The if Statement

Using Shorthand Conditional Expressions

Testing Multiple Conditions with If and Else

Using Multiple Conditions with switch

Using for Loops

Using While Loops

Using Do…While Loops

Working with Loops

Looping Through Object Properties

Hour 8: Using Built-in Functions and Libraries

Using the Math Object

Working with Math Functions

Using the with Keyword

Working with Dates

Using Third-Party Libraries

Other Libraries

Part III: Learning More About the DOM

Hour 9: Responding to Events

Understanding Event Handlers

Using Mouse Events

Using Keyboard Events

Using the onLoad and onUnload Events

Hour 10: Using Windows and Frames

Controlling Windows with Objects

Moving and Resizing Windows

Using Timeouts

Displaying Dialog Boxes

Working with Frames

Hour 11: Getting Data with Forms

The Basics of HTML Forms

Using the Form Object with JavaScript

Scripting Form Elements

Displaying Data from a Form

Sending Form Results by Email

Hour 12: Working with Style Sheets

Style and Substance

Defining and Using CSS Styles

Using CSS Properties

Creating a Simple Style Sheet

Using External Style Sheets

Controlling Styles with JavaScript

Hour 13: Using the W.3C DOM

The DOM and Dynamic HTML

Understanding DOM Structure

Creating Positionable Elements (Layers)

Hour 14: Using Advanced DOM Features

Working with DOM Nodes

Hiding and Showing Objects

Modifying Text Within a Page

Adding Text to a Page

Part IV: Working with Advanced JavaScript Features

Hour 15: Unobtrusive Scripting

Scripting Best Practices

Reading Browser Information

Cross-Browser Scripting

Supporting Non-JavaScript Browsers

Hour 16: Debugging JavaScript Applications

Avoiding Bugs

Basic Debugging Tools

Creating Error Handlers

Advanced Debugging Tools

Hour 17: AJAX: Remote Scripting

Introducing AJAX

Using XMLHttpRequest

Creating a Simple AJAX Library

Creating an AJAX Quiz Using the Library

Debugging AJAX Applications

Hour 18: Greasemonkey: Enhancing the Web with JavaScript

Introducing Greasemonkey

Working with User Scripts

Creating Your Own User Scripts

Part V: Building Multimedia Applications with JavaScript

Hour 19: Using Graphics and Animation

Using Dynamic Images

Creating Rollovers

A Simple JavaScript Slideshow

Hour 20: Working with Sound and Plug-Ins

Introducing Plug-Ins

JavaScript and Flash

Playing Sounds with JavaScript

Testing Sounds in JavaScript

Part VI: Creating Complex Scripts

Hour 21: Building JavaScript Drop-Down Menus

Designing Drop-Down Menus

Scripting Drop-Down Menu Behavior

Hour 22: Creating a JavaScript Game

About the Game

Creating the HTML Document

Creating the Script

Adding Style with CSS

Hour 23: Creating JavaScript Applications

Creating a Scrolling Window

Style Sheet Switching with JavaScript

Hour 24: Your Future with JavaScript

Learning Advanced JavaScript Techniques

Future Web Technologies

Planning for the Future

Moving on to Other Languages

Part VII: Appendixes

Appendix A: Other JavaScript Resources

Other Books

JavaScript Websites

Web Development Sites

This Book’s Website

Appendix B: Tools for JavaScript Developers

HTML and Text Editors

HTML Validators

Debugging Tools

Appendix C: Glossary

Appendix D: JavaScript Quick Reference

Built-in Objects

Creating and Customizing Objects

JavaScript Statements

JavaScript Built-in Functions

Appendix E: DOM Quick Reference

DOM Level 0

DOM Level 1

Index